California Rosemaler Newsletter

June 2011 www.califrosemaler.org No. 108

Reserve your space now

CRA Convention November 3—6, 2011 Culver City

Featuring

Vesterheim Gold Medalists Patti Goke & Nancy Schmidt

 Inside:

Convention info Member News Membership 

Photo: Detail, rosemaled trunk Folk Museum. Photo © and courtesy, Kris Andrews

From the President...

Dear Rosemaling Friends,

I hope everyone is getting excited to attend our CRA convention November 3-6. Plan to arrive on Thursday to do any prep work and to get settled in for our classes with Nancy Schmidt, VGM, and Patti Goke, VGM. We have been fortunate to have both of these talented teachers in the past. Nancy is WANTED: very knowledgeable on old style Os that would be acceptable for submission to Vesterheim. Patti is the Volunteers for the newsletter editor for Vesterheim and also moderator of Rosemaling on Yahoo Groups. So, we are in good Nomination committee. hands there! Please let me know I am looking for someone to be in charge of the via phone – 949/726-1947 nominating committee, so that we can fill the officer slots that will be available this year. Please contact or email – me if you would like to be on the nominating [email protected] committee, and/or if you are interested in running for an office this year. Don‟t be shy and wait to be asked. In particular, we need to find a new Vice President for two years. We have been two years in southern California and next we will be two years in northern California. It‟s great how we cover the state of California with rosemaling! 2011 CRA Board

By now, I hope everyone has received their membership directory. Rebecca Nelson-Harris did a President Arlene Rounce beautiful job on that! We also have a revamped (949) 726-1947 [email protected] brochure to hand out at events thanks to Astrid Fisher and Joyce Field. Please contact them if you 1st Vice-Convention Yvonne Thomson would like to hand some out at an event you‟re at- (310) 837-1150 [email protected] tending. We‟ve had some really great events already this year! Membership Rebecca Nelson-Harris

(530) 268-1422 [email protected] I‟d like to invite anyone who‟s interested to join a group that I started on Facebook. It is just started Secretary Astrid Fisher and very informal until we see the interest level. (760) 721-4194 [email protected] After entering Facebook, send me a friend request; after I accept your friend request, I‟ll invite you to Treasurer Joyce Field join the group. The name is the California Rosema- (310) 542-4228 [email protected] ling Association. Also, don‟t forget to check out our website at www.califrosemaler.org. If you have Newsletter Editor Karen Willman trouble, please give me a call. Can‟t wait for our (951) 687-7490 [email protected] convention! Arlene Rounce Historian Jurene While President (619) 465-5178 [email protected] 2 I am so happy to announce that our second teacher will be

PATTI GOKE, a Vesterheim Gold Medalist and she will be teaching . Patti will be teaching in acrylics. I am looking forward to a great class with her.

NANCY SCHMIDT, also a Vesterheim Gold Medalist, will be teaching an Os rosemaling project. She is an oil painter, but Os is a great style to convert to acrylics for the non-oil painters.

We will post project pictures on the website as soon as we have them, and in the September newsletter.

Yvonne Thomson, 1st Vice President

2011 Convention in Southern California November 3rd 4th 5th & 6th 2011

Nancy PattI Schmidt Goke

ancy has been rosemaling since 1977, studying atti began rosemaling 25 years ago when her husband with numerous American and Norwegian encouraged her to take a community ed class — he painters, here and in . She is an art had an old trunk which he wanted rosemaled. Since that time, she had studied under Sigmund Aarseth, education graduate of the University of PEgil Dahle, Nils Ellingsgaard, Oskar Kjetsaa, Bjørgliot Lunde, NWisconsin, Whitewater, and is active in the Norse Kari Petterson and Eli Sælid of Norway, and studied under Rosemaler‟s Association in Milwaukee and also the many of the prominent American painters. She received a MN Wisconsin State Rosemaler‟s Association in Stoughton, state grant to apprentice with Karen Jenson for a year. She has WI. She received Vesterheim‟s Gold Medal for won many awards, competing regionally, nationally and Rosemaling in 1990 and has taught extensively over the internationally, and received her Vesterheim Gold Medal for United States and has judged many rosemaling shows rosemaling in 2007. including National Competition at Vesterheim. She has Her work has been displayed at the National Folk Museum in received grants from the state of Wisconsin to teach Oslo, Norway as well as New York City, NY; St. Paul, MN and rosemaling individually. Nancy represented Wisconsin‟s Seattle, WA., and one of her pieces is included in Vesterheim‟s Arts Board on a trip to Japan in 1990 and has taught in permanent display. Her rosemaling is in private collections in Japan numerous times since then. Norway and the U.S., and Patti‟s rosemaling adorns the interior

She is well known and accomplished in numerous styles décor of Norway‟s historic Raftevold Hotel in Hornindal. She of rosemaling: Telemark, Os, , Valdres, has studied and photographed rosemaling throughout Norway on seven self-guided trips, and paints most of the styles of rose- Hallingdal and Gudbrandsdal. Her painting background maling with Vest Agder being her specialty. She is currently also includes painting scenery and figures and more the editor of Vesterheim‟s Rosemaling Newsletter. Oh, by the modern interpretations using the idea of rosemaling. way, her husband is still waiting for the trunk to be painted... Nancy has taken a number of acanthus woodcarving classes as well...

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Convention Schedule Convention The classes will have the same format as last year, Details two teachers, with one and a half days with each teacher.

A quick rundown on schedule:

Thursday Nov 3rd Registration and Basecoating Friday Nov 4th Classes Saturday Nov 5th Classes and Banquet The Hotel Sunday Nov 6th Classes

The 2011 convention will be held in the same location and at the same time as last year. Reservations for Trade Floor The name of the hotel will be changed by One of the benefits of convention is the chance to shop then to the Double Tree Hotel with a few and/or sell things at the Trade Floor. A portion of the upgrades. I have been told there will be some sales goes to CRA to help with the cost of of putting on good improvements to the rooms. For the the convention. people that missed last year‟s convention, every room has a refrigerator, hair dryer, If you‟re wanting to sell rosemaling, supplies, packets, coffee pot and features Sweet Dreams Beds wood, etc. at convention‟s trade floor, you need to by Doubletree, designed to give you a contact Jurene While in plenty of time so she knows what luxurious night‟s sleep. type of items will be coming in and can plan the spaces. Table space is limited — reserve your space with Jurene The hotel provides FREE shuttle service no later than October 24, the MONDAY a WEEK from LAX airport. BEFORE convention. Also, fill in the inventory list

(page 5) with your item‟s name/number/price — you The Double Tree Hotel (Old Radisson) has a need to give that to her when you turn in your items for great restaurant and bar and there are the trade floor. Make a copy to keep for your records. restaurants nearby within walking distance. All items must be individually tagged (and legible) with

your name, item number and item‟s price before they are I have secured a great rate of turned in for the Trade Floor. Look for more details in $95.00 per night. September‟s Newsletter Jurene While Double Tree Hotel 6161 West Centinela Avenue Culver City, CA 90232 310/ 649-1776 Call for Donations Website: www.doubletree.com Westside Yes! That does mean you!! (if you would like to see the hotel!!) Convention is always more fun with You can call to make a reservation any time, exciting raffle prizes and plenty of door but don‟t forget to mention that you are with prizes to look forward to. the California Rosemaling Association to get this special rate. The Convention registration Please consider donating something small, form is on page 15. If you‟re not yet a CRA something large, something in between; member, send in your membership (page 14). maybe one, maybe a ton, maybe something in between.

Remember it‟s never too early to send in your Contact Carol Ganzi about your donation. deposit. I look forward to seeing everyone. 310 / 273-5096 or [email protected]

Yvonne Thomson Astrid Fisher, CRA Secretary 1st Vice President

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(cell phone)………………………………………….

November 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th

Contact: Jurene While (619) 465-5178 [email protected] Trade Floor reservation deadline October 24, 2011  Inventory List required to submit Trade Floor items Belated birthday wishes to a very special CRA member, Ethel Kvalheim, who celebrated her 99th birthday in March.

Her works have been an integral part of America‟s rosemaling landscape and a highlight of Stoughton, WI. She began rosemaling in the 1940‟s — Per Lysne was a neighbor. Vesterheim awarded its first Gold Medal in rosemaling to Ethel Rosemaling Kvalheim in 1969; she‟s received the St. Olav‟s news Medal from the King of Norway and was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship in 1989.

Thank you for inspiring so many of us!

Tammi An introduction Schmorleitz, left and Barbara Pattow- To Rosemaling Vigil, right, hold Vest Agder style Tammi Schmorleitz and bowls from their Barbara Pattow-Vigil Camp Norge beginners class with jumped at the chance to teacher Mardella take their first rosemaling Ivers (center). class. Their Daughters of Norway Elise Below, rosemalers in another class at Wærenskjold Lodge in Camp Norge.

Roseville sponsored them for the spring workshop at Photos courtesy Tammi Schmorleitz Camp Norge. They had a and Karen Nelson great time, and were pleased to have a project completed.

For Barbara, the weekend of rosemaling had an extra nice dimension… She ex- plained, “I met a woman whose jewelry I‟d bought years ago for my mom, who‟s now passed away. I recognized Julie Anne‟s signature. It was a nice full - circle moment…” (Julie Anne and Sandra Cole taught the other classes).

See www.campnorge.org for details on the Sons of Norway Camp Norge‟s September retreat in Alta, CA. 6 Paint, Paint, Paint

There were CRA members aplenty at JoSonja‟s May rosemaling seminar in Eureka. From back left, JoSonja Jansen (VGM), Yvonne Thomson, Ruth Ann Petro, Joyce Fields, Cathy Chambers, DeeDee Skjervem, Astrid Fisher, June Skollingsberg, Karen Gibson and front (l. to r.), Rosanna Merrill, Yelena Savranskaya and Cynthia Hayashi. (Not pictured, Kathy Owenby)

The class worked on four projects during the weeklong seminar.

Photo © and courtesy Karen Gibson

A Focus on Old Rosemaling Styles

We had a very success- Painting Tips? ful 3 day workshop with Tina Keune, VGM, here in Phoenix. Designs? The class was full and we all learned a lot about old rosemaling

which we also painted. If you look at the photos in this The styles were from issue, you‟ll notice a number Lesja, a place up in of T-shirts with Gudbrandsdalen, old rosemaling designs on them...

Telemark with figures, Anyone want to make their own etc. and Valdres. in time for convention?

Everyone had a great If you haven‟t painted on fabric before, time and as usual lots maybe we can have some ideas for you in the September newsletter... of fun. It was a great class. Any members out there who‟d care to

By the way the class in send in some fabric painting suggestions that we could put in the Tucson was also full September newsletter? and they all enjoyed it and want her back Anyone who‟d like to share design ideas that we could print? Two of Inger Johnsen’s projects from the another time. March Tina Keune workshop in Arizona. If so, please send your I did a lot of different A number of the Arizona painting group suggestions and designs between now also belong to CRA. projects in class. I just and August. sent a couple… Photos © and courtesy Inger Johnsen Inger Johnsen Karen Willman [email protected]

7 Photos at left: Swedish handcraft (slojd) Vanessa Meade Photography, courtesy of American Swedish Institute

Summer travel ?

Explore the arts

VESTERHEIM‟S NATIONAL EXHIBITION OF FOLK ART IN THE NORWEGIAN TRADITION is on view July 23—30 in Decorah, Iowa (the Nordic Fest is July 28-30). See www.vesterheim.org for more details.

San Diego is highlighting all things Finnish with a month-long celebration beginning the end of July. Balboa Park will have a number of events including exhibits of paintings, photography, pottery and jewelry. The Mingei International Musuem in Balboa Park will have “NORTHERN STARS: 20TH CENTURY FINNISH DESIGN” running from August 7 through February, 2012. It is a traveling exhibit from the Design Museum in Helsinki. See www.mingei.org and www.finnfest2011.com for more events and details.

FROM THE LAND OF THE HAND: CREATING BEAUTIFUL AND USEFUL OBJECTS runs through August 13 in Minneapolis., MN. The American Swedish Institute‟s exhibit is at the Center for Changing Lives, 2400 Park Avenue. The exhibit showcases the works from ASI‟s year-long program for children and adults on Swedish handcrafts including ceramics, birch bark, wood carving, felting, glass fusing, wheat weaving and wirework. You can view videos of some of these classes and projects on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=american+swedish+institute+slojd

8 Diane Langill, left ...Photos from April‟s Scandinavian Festival at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. It was very well organized and there was lots of fun and food for everyone! Our members, Diane Langill, Kay White and Ingrid Nordgren Pratt had booths selling their beautiful rosemaling! Ingrid also rosmaled all the signs for the festival. Astrid Fisher demonstrated rosemaling and her husband Bob Fisher demonstrated his Norwegian flat plane figure woodcarving. It was such a fun festival and I would encourage everyone to try to attend next year!

Astrid Fisher

Photos, right column: Astrid Fisher demonstrating, Astrid and Bob Fisher; Astrid with musicians playing; and left, Ingrid Nordgren Pratt and husband Ron Pratt. Ingrid painted the signs for the festival. Photos © and courtesy Astrid Fisher

9 Norway Day : CRA & Rosemaling on Display

nce again the thousands of CRA‟s booth at Norway visitors to Norway Day Day Festival in San Francsico. Right, Beth in San Francisco had an Twogood demonstrating Oopportunity to see the California the painting. Far right, Rosemaling Association in action. Sigmund Aarseth‟s Rosemaling performance The CRA booth had examples of the art demonstration. different regional styles of Norwegian Photos courtesy rosemaling and Beth Twogood and Marley Wright Smith, Astrid Fisher and Marley Wright Smith painted Beth Twogood. rosemaling designs on visors and bookmarks to give inquiring visitors.

Beth, Marley and Fern Duggan sold their rosemaling there; but CRA‟s a team effort: Hildy Henry, Donna Reed, Marley and Beth set the booth up and were there both days. Astrid Fisher, Karen Nelson and Andrea Hanson were some of the other CRA members drawn to the April 30—May 1 weekend.

CRA has been represented at the annual festival since Norway Day began in 1993.

10 Rosemaling Links: a Family Affair his is the first time I went up to Norway Days. T I saw Marley and Hildy there. It was great. My son got to assist Sigmund showing him little reminders of how much time had passed while he was painting. It was so much fun. My cousin lives in the Bay area and her daughter lives in San Francisco. They remember Hildy because in the 1990‟s I got them and my mom to go with me and we took a class with Karen Jenson at Hildy‟s house, so they wanted to see Sigmund do his performance art live too.

Andrea Hanson Norway‟s Sigmund Aarseth creating his large rosemaling painting to music at Norway Day. Photo, left and panel below © and courtesy Andrea Hanson and Ryan Hanson

Sigmund in Norway with some of his recent work (above) and a glimpse of his home in winter (left) …

Sigmund Aarseth, widely recognized for his fine art and Diane Edwards landscape paintings in addition to his rosemaling, is also known for his interior design and mural painting. On the second day of the festival he demonstrated the figure painting. Photos above © and courtesy Marley Wright Smith

11 Taking the Traditions in a New Direction

M elissa Lusk grew up in a Wisconsin family well- steeped in the Norwegian arts and handcrafts. Her great grandfather came to America as a Norwegian immigrant who never gave up on his woodcarving. Her grandmother, Jean Giese, is a Vesterheim Gold Medalist for rosemaling. And, if that wasn‟t enough, her parents are both recognized for their woodworking: Mike and Becky Lusk own Lusk Scandia Woodworks and Becky Lusk is a Vesterheim Gold Medalist for woodcarving.

“I‟ve gone to a lot of rosemaling shows over the years,” Melissa laughs. “ But no one pressured me to get into painting. I tried woodcarving when I was eight, but didn‟t really think it was for me.”

Cooking and baking were her hobby in high school. “When I‟d get bored in summers, I‟d cook for the family. It became a niche for me, and finally I started thinking, „what if I went in that direction?‟. ”

Melissa went to the University of Wisconsin-Stout and got her Bachelors of Science degree in hospitality and tourism management. She went from waitress jobs to a series of college internships: salad chef one summer, the next as a pastry chef in Park City, Utah. “I found I really liked doing cakes, and for fun I started doing cakes and wedding cakes for friends.”

Above left, rosemaled wedding cake Melissa Lusk made in December 2010. Left, getting tips in Telemark rosemaling from her VGM grandmother Jean Giese in 2009 class. Tray above is one Melissa did on her own outside of the class.

Photos © and courtesy Melissa Lusk 12

T he rosemaling idea was probably an influence from her grandmother. Two summers ago she was ready to try the rosemaling. Her grandmother gave her brushes and paints, and lots of stroke practice sheets. She took her grandmother‟s class in September 2009 and was surprised she could do it. “It probably took me another year before I had my rosemaling cake to give her as a Christmas present,” Melissa said.

She moved to New York and went to work for a bakery for a year, gaining experience in creating and making extravagant cakes — anything with fondant and/or any- thing carved and sculpted. Melissa is now the pastry chef at the elegant Muttontown Club on New York‟s Long Island, her days filled making pastries, cookies, muffins, plated desserts, dessert buffets and specialty cakes.

And what does Melissa‟s grandmother think? “I‟m very pleased and very happy for her. We are all as a family involved with our heritage. Melissa was very deter- mined to translate her heritage into her art of baking.”

“It was hard to think outside the box from working on wood”, Melissa said. But she found it was natural, too… “My cake is my art.”

Karen Willman

Photos above: Melissa and Jean at end of Telemark class; a special Christmas gift; and a rosemaling cake Melissa made recently. Photos © and courtesy Melissa Lusk

13 California Rosemaling Association

The $15 annual membership dues include a The purpose of the subscription to the California Rosemaler, published California Rosemaling Association quarterly, March, June, September and December. is to promote the traditional art We welcome articles, designs, photos and suggestions for future issues. The news deadlines for upcoming issues of Norwegian rosemaling. in 2011 are: September 1 and December 1. Our members are committed to preserving rosemaling Classified ads are $1 per line per issue. Business cards are as a unique art form. $5 for the first publication and $2 per issue thereafter. Quarter-page ads are $15 for the initial publication and $10 per issue thereafter. Please send ad copy to the editor along CRA has approximately 170 members. with a check payable to CRA. Ads are screened for Some are expert rosemalers, appropriateness, however, publishing them does not imply others are beginning painters, endorsement by the Executive Board. all with a love to study the art form. The CRA newsletter is the sole possession of the California Rosemaling Association. All rights reserved. Membership in CRA allows you to attend the Reproduction by mechanical or other means is permitted annual convention featuring only with written permission from the editor. Patterns may renowned rosemalers from around the world. be traced for personal use, not for resale. If you have Members also receive something to include, please send it in by September 1 an annual membership directory and for the next issue.

a subscription to the quarterly newsletter. Comments and suggestions are always welcome. Send to Karen Willman, [email protected].

CALIFORNIA ROSEMALING ASSOCIATION Membership Application: 2011 ______

Name ______New______Renewal______

Mailing Address: ______

______

Phone: ______

Email: ______May we print the above information in our membership directory? Yes ______No ______

Do you teach rosemaling? ______If so, where? ______

Please complete this application, enclose $15.00 dues (check made out to CRA) and mail to:

Rebecca Nelson-Harris 23942 Balsam Court Auburn, CA 95602

14 CALIFORNIA ROSEMALING CONVENTION 2011

NOVEMBER 3 — 6, 2011

DOUBLETREE HOTEL 6161 W. Centinela Ave., Culver City, CA 90230

Contact the Doubletree Hotel to reserve your room. Tell them you are with the California Rosemaling Association. Phone number 1-888-201-1718 / 1-310-649-1776 or online at www.doubletree.com Rate $95.00 per night. Tax not included. Also parking charge $6.00 per night.

The Double Tree offers: Complimentary shuttle service from LAX airport Mini Refrigerator and Coffee and Tea maker Hair Dryers, Iron and Ironing Board High Speed Internet access

Convention Registration $200.00 covers Class, Wood pieces and Banquet. $ 50.00 Deposit will assure your space. Balance must be received by October 8th $225.00 Late registration after October 9th postmark. $ 55.00 Guest for Banquet

CUT AND RETURN BOTTOM PORTION WITH YOUR CHECK MADE OUT TO CRA TO: Yvonne Thomson 8948 Krueger Street, Culver City, CA 90232-2437 Phone: 310-837-1150 or email [email protected]

Banquet meal chosen: Beef ______Fish ______Vegetarian ______

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations requested and received by Yvonne Thomson either by phone, mail or email on or before October 24, 2011 entitles registrant to a partial refund of $150; $50 is nonrefundable. No refunds will be issued after October 24th.

Please keep top half copy for your records

CALIFORNIA ROSEMALING REGISTRATION FORM 2011

Name: ______Address: ______City, State, Zip : ______Phone: ______

SATURDAY NIGHT BANQUET CHOICE

Prime Rib of Beef: Au jus, Creamy Horseradish, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Market Vegetables ______Red Snapper: Lobster Sauce and Baby Shrimp, Herb Roasted New Potatoes, Market Vegetables ______Penne Pasta: Asparagus, Fresh Diced Tomatoes, Tossed in Pesto Cream, Shaved Parmesan ______

15 California Rosemaling Newsletter Karen Willman, editor

June 2011 No. 108

Check out

CRA‟s website Convention news www.califrosemaler.org A Star Line Up!

Summer finds and special treats…

Rosemaling reaches new The CRA Newsletter is available in color heights in Melissa Lusk’s in PDF format for email wedding cakes…page 12 and is on our website

Do we have your Photo copyright and correct/current courtesy Melissa Lusk email address?